Wenger relief as Wilshere returns to training

20 September 2012 05:48

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he was relieved to see Jack Wilshere finally return to training on Thursday after the England midfielder's 13-month injury nightmare.

Wilshere was sidelined for the whole of last season after aggravating an ankle problem during a pre-season friendly and his hopes of returning for the start of this season were also dashed by a slow recovery.

But the 20-year-old has been able to step up his comeback over the last few weeks and joined in with the first-team's training session on Thursday ahead of Sunday's trip to Manchester City.

Wenger has no intention of rushing Wilshere back into action just yet but he is delighted to see his star midfielder put his injury woes behind him.

"We are so pleased that Jack is back in full training," Wenger told Arsenal's website. "It has been 14 months and that is a long time for someone at his age. It is an eternity but it is great news.

"We have to give him a few training sessions to see how he copes and responds to it, that is the delicate, sensitive stage -- to choose when to bring him in and out. We will have to handle that day-by-day."

Meanwhile, Wilshere's fellow midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is also closing in on a return after being sidelined by a serious knee injury suffered while on loan at Wolves in February.

"We also have Emmanuel Frimpong who has returned to full training this week, which is great news as well," Wenger added. "Emmanuel has also been out a long time, but is progressing well."